Integrated radial diffuser with movable diffuser hub
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsViktor Kilchyk, Jeffrey S. Dearborn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radial diffuser includes an inlet section, outlet section, diffuser wall, and movable diffuser hub. The inlet section has a cylindrical shape and a circular cross section. The diffuser wall includes an inner surface defining a fluid flow path which is non-linear, and includes a convex curved section and a concave curved section. The convex curved section is adjacent to the inlet section and has a convex curvature. The concave curved section is adjacent to the outlet section and has a concave curvature. The movable diffuser hub is configured to move with respect to a central flow axis relative to the diffuser wall and can thereby alter a fluid flow through the radial diffuser.
Claims20
A radial diffuser for a heat exchanger system, the radial diffuser comprising:
- a diffuser inlet section which is upstream of the heat exchanger system and oriented along a central flow axis of the radial diffuser, the diffuser inlet section having a cylindrical shape which extends along the central flow axis and a circular cross section along an inlet section plane perpendicular to the central flow axis;
- a diffuser outlet section which is downstream of the diffuser inlet section with respect to the central flow axis;
- a diffuser wall comprising a diffuser wall inner surface defining a radially outer boundary of a fluid flow path which is non-linear, the diffuser wall inner surface comprising:
- a convex curved section adjacent to the diffuser inlet section and having a convex curvature with respect to the central flow axis;
- and
- a concave curved section adjacent to the diffuser outlet section and having a concave curvature with respect to the central flow axis, wherein the concave curved section is adjacent to and downstream of the convex curved section with respect to the central flow axis;
- and
- a movable diffuser hub disposed concentrically with the diffuser wall about the central flow axis and received in the diffuser wall, the moveable diffuser hub having a continuous surface facing the diffuser inlet section and diffuser wall inner surface and defining a radially inner boundary of the fluid flow path;
- wherein the moveable diffuser hub is configured to move axially with respect to the central flow axis relative to the diffuser wall, thereby altering a diffusion rate of a working fluid through the radial diffuser.
A method of manufacturing a radial diffuser, the method comprising:
- manufacturing a diffuser inlet section of the radial diffuser configured to be positioned upstream of the heat exchanger system and oriented along a central flow axis of the radial diffuser, the diffuser inlet section having a cylindrical shape which extends along the central flow axis and a circular cross section along an inlet section plane perpendicular to the central flow axis;
- manufacturing a diffuser wall of the radial diffuser adjacent to the diffuser inlet section, the diffuser wall comprising a diffuser wall inner surface defining a radially outer boundary of a fluid flow path which is non-linear, the diffuser wall inner surface comprising:
- a convex curved section adjacent to the diffuser inlet section and having a convex curvature with respect to the central flow axis;
- and
- a concave curved section adjacent to the diffuser outlet section and having a concave curvature with respect to the central flow axis, wherein the concave curved section is adjacent to and downstream of the convex curved section with respect to the central flow axis;
- manufacturing a diffuser outlet section of the radial diffuser adjacent to the diffuser wall and downstream of the diffuser inlet section with respect to the central flow axis;
- and
- manufacturing a movable diffuser hub of the radial diffuser, the moveable diffuser hub disposed concentrically with the diffuser wall about the central flow axis and received in the diffuser wall, the moveable diffuser hub having a continuous surface facing the diffuser inlet section and diffuser wall inner surface and defining a radially inner boundary of the fluid flow path;
- wherein the moveable diffuser hub is configured to move axially with respect to the central flow axis relative to the diffuser wall during operation of the radial diffuser to alter a diffusion rate of a working fluid through the radial diffuser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.